Buckle for overall suspender straps



Aug. 29, 1950 J. C. ULMER BUCKLE FOR OVERALL SUSPENDER STRAPS Filed July 26, .1949

JAMES C.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 1 UNITED STA'IES PATENT OFFICE,

I V 2,520,583 7 v I BUCKLE FOR OVERALL SUSPENDER STRAPS James 0. Ulmer, AltapCalif. i Application July 26,1949, semi No 106,831

3 Claims. (Cli 24-73) invention relates to a buckle for suspenders of workmens overalls. v

important object of my invention is to provide 'a buckleof the above-mentioned class which is simplified in construction, durable and cliea'pto manufacture. I Ajurther object is to provide a buckle vwhich will not slip upon the suspender strap, and which embodies'no prongs or teeth to pierce or damage thestrap.

A further object is to provide a buckle'which is-neat and attractive'in appearance, and which will'lie flatin use, since the suspender strap is passed through the buckle in one thickness only. A still further object of the invention is to providea buckle which is readily bodily detachable from the suspender'strap, so that a single pairof buckles may be used upon several pairs of o l 1 r 1 ,Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during'the course of thefollowing description. v fI'nthe accompanying drawings, forminga part of 'this'v application, and in which like numerals areemployed todesignate like parts throughout the-same: 1- Figure 1 is a front side elevation ofja buckle e bodying my invention andshowingthesame f il- I Figurez is an enlarged front'side elevation of the buckle removed, parts 'broken'away; I Figiii'eii is an enlarged end elevation of the, ucklefshowing a ,button -rece'iving loop in sev eral positions; j Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front side elevation ofabuckleembodying a slight modification of theinvention. 1 I I p .Iirthe drawings, where, for the purposeof illustr'ation, are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first to Figures 1 to 4, wherein the numeral 6 designates the upper front portion or bibof, a, pairof conventional workmens overalls. The bib 6 is provided near its top corners with the usual buttons 1 having reduced shanks 8. The buttons 1 are secured to the outer side of the bib, as shown. The overalls include the usual flexible suspender straps 9, only one of which is shown, and the buckle embodying the invention is applied to the straps 9 in a manner to be described.

The buckle comprises a rectangular loop or frame l0, preferably formed of still spring steel wire, and including a top horizontal locking bar 2 V or side H, vertical ends l2, and inwardly-extending bottom horizontal extensions l3, parallel to the top side I I. The inner ends of the bottom extensions I3 are spaced apart, as shown. Pivotally mounted upon the wire loop or frame III for vertical swinging movement is a sheet metal clasp plate It including a central flat rectangular body portion I 5 adapted to be arranged within the loop or frame It. The clasp plate 14 is provided at its lower end and adjacent to its ends with longitudinally-spaced, inwardlyrolled, integral, cylindrical knuckles or sleeves l8 pivotally receiving the bottom extensions l3. At its opposite ends, the clasp plate It is provided withinwardly-facing, narrow, vertical flanges ll extending for substantially the entire vertical width of the clasp plate and adapted to enter the loop or frame It] and be disposed close to the vertical ends I! whenthe clasp plate It is closed, Figures 1, 2 and 4. At its top edge, the clasp plate M has a pair of longitudinally-spaced, integral clamping hooks Ill disposed opposite the knuckles I6 and including forwar dly-inclined flat portion l8 and rearwardly-projecting curved portions is integral therewith. Between the hooks, the clasp plate is provided with a rearwardlyeinclined, upstanding, locking tongue 20 rolled over at its top to form a rounded bead 2|,

- The bead 2! is disposed below and rearwardlyof the curved portions I9, Figures 3 and 4. The body portion I 5 of the clasp plate is formed to provide a horizontal, long, narrow slot 22 havingrearwardly-projecting lips 23, and the slot extends for substantially the entire length of the clasp plate, as shown. Below the locking tongue 20, and in. its bottom edge, the body portion I5 is bent to form a longitudinal, forwardly-offset portion 24 for a purpose to be described. v The buckle further comprises a pivoted button holding loop 25 which is generally U shape and normally extends below the frame l0 and clasp plate It, as shown. The. loop 25 has, upper horizontally-aligned extensionsor trunnionsit pivotally. engaging within the knuckles l6. of the clasp plate, Figure 2.

In use, the clasp plate It is swung to an open position, Figure 3, and the free end of the suspender strap 9 is passed below the bar H, and over the tops of the clamping hooks Hi. The buckle is adjusted so asto be straight upon the strap 9, and then the free end of the strap may be folded down over the front face of the clasp plate H. The buckle is grasped at its top corners with the fingers and the clasp plate It is pressed toward the frame I0, the locking tongue 2|! will snap below the bar H and become arranged slightly rearwardly of and below the bar ll, Figure 4. When this occurs, the clamping hooks I8 press the strap 9 rearwardly into tight clamping engagement with the bar II. The bead 2| is disposed so that it will just pass beneath the bar II, when the clasp plate I4 is closed without any overall strap. When the buckle is applied to the strap 9, and its thickness is between the bead 2| and bar ll, .thebar and locking tongue must yield slightly to permit the bead 2| to snap under the bar. Both the bar I l and tongue 20 are somewhat resilient to permit this action The free end of the suspenderstrap 9 is now passedrearwardly through" the' slot 22, and extends downwardly adjacent tO'thB/;=-.- The lowermost end of to take place.

rear side of the buckle.

the strap 9 may be arranged on the inside ofthe bib 6, Figure 4. When the buckle has been ap-:

plied to the overall strap 9, as described, and

properly adjusted, the button. .1 is passed through the" loop..25; and the button shank 8 engages withinfthe bottom of the .loop to detachably offset for. a distance substantially equal. toQthelength of the button shank 8. This arrangement permits the button I to lie flat at all times and not be twisted upwardly when engaged within-the loop 29. The fact 'that the loop 25 is pivoted within the knuckles [6 also aids the button '1 and buckle to lie flat and permits .the loop25 to freely adjust itself .to various positions, such as shown in broken. lines, in Figure 3.- .The for: wardlyeoffset portion24 provides additional-clearance for the loop 25 to swing in. v .As is obvious, the buckle is easy .te'appl'y to and remove bodily from the strap 9,1 and canbe' readilyadjusted longitudinally of the strapbefore the clasp .plate is pressed (closed; Figures 1 and 4. To open the buckle for removing 'o'radjustingit, it ismerely necessary to pullthefree .end ofthe strap out of the slot 22 .and then-grasplthe overall, strap 9 above and below the buckle and place the strap undertension. When this 'is done, the buckle will snapppen, no jprying. of parts with ,a blade or other implement being necessary, When the buckle 'isclosed, Figure 4, the strap 9 will not slip, and no damage is done to the strapby the buckle closing .upon-it. ,Ihe buckle is simple, neat and attractive and. very eiTective. .Y

QIn'Figure 5,.I have shown a slight modification of the invention, wherein the buttoneholding loop 25 is formed integrally'with the lowerside 21fof the frame It. In this, form of the invention, the loop 25 is not free to swing, as in Figure 3,but is rigidupon the frame 10. Also, they forwardly offset portion '24 is omitted. .All other parts and their functions are identical with those shown and described in the first form of the invention;

It is to be understood that the forms of my inventiomherewith shownv and described; are to be "taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A buckle for overall suspender straps, comprising a frame including top and bottom bars, a clasp plate pivotally mounted upon the bottom bar of the frame and adapted to swing toward andawayfrom the frame, the clasp plate having a slot disposed generally parallel to the'top bar,

an upstanding locking tongue secured to the top of the clasp plate and adapted to snap beneath the top banof the frame and be arranged rearwardly of and below the top bar, an upstandingcl'ampnelement secured to the top of the clasp plate and adapted to engage the top bar forwardly' ofthe locking tongue when the tongue snaps beneath such bar, and a depending loop secured to the bottom bar of the frame and adaptedtq be, detachably secured .to :a button-of theoveralls;

-2.. A buckle for. .overall suspender straps, coniprisi'ng a frameincluding top and bottom .bars',.a clasp plate nhingedly connected. with they bottom bar and adapted to swing toward and away from the f ram e, the clasp plate having. apertured knuckles' adj acent to its bottom edge pivotally receiving the .bottombar and a longitudinal slot extending generally parallel with the top bar, an upstanding rearwardly-inclinedlocking tongue secured to the topedge-of the clasp plate .-.and being. roundedat its; .top .and. adapted" to pass beneath the top. bar .and. be arranged rearwardly of the ,to'p bar, rearwardly-curved upstanding clamphooks secured toithe claspplate upon 0;:- posite sides .of the lockingtongue and. adaptedto engage the. forward side of the .topbar when the locking tongue passes beneath such bar zandfa depending substantially .U .-.shaped .loop securedto the bottom -bar of the framev and adapted to be connected with a button of the overalls... V

3. A buckle, -for..overall suspender straps, comprising a frame including/a top banbottom longitudinallyespacedextensions and ends con! necting said top bar and extensions, a .swingable clasp. .plate for .movement toward and away from the framej. and, including: aperturled knuckles pivotally'receiving the extensions, the clasp -plate having. a,, longitudinal slot, an upstanding -.re-

" silient locking tongue secured to .theclasp plate for. passage beneath the top bar to a-lockedposition "rearwardly; ofthe top 'bar, an upstandingclamp element securedto the clasp. plate ,for

engagflmgnt withthe top, bar, when, the locking tongue isinihelocked position,- anda depending ge erally u-ys ped p a ra ged tthe bot of the buckle andhaving trunnions pivotally mounted within the apertured knucklesjinwardly of the spaced extensions so that the loop may swing relative to the frame, the loop receiving abuttonof the overalls... I JAMESC.ULMER.'I

" 'l lo references cited. 

